Aspirator and circulating cooling apparatus

ABSTRACT

APPARATUS CAPABLE OF USE AS AN ASPIRATOR FOR DRAWING A CONSTANT VACUUM AND FOR USE IN CIRCULATING COOLING SYSTEMS. THE APPARATUS IS PORTABLE AND INCLUDES AN ASPIRATOR AND MEANS ASSOCIATED THEREWITH FOR CREATING A VACUUM AT A CONTROLLED CONSTANT RATE.

- Feb. 16, 1971 A. A. SCHNERRING 3,563,049

ASPIRATOR AND CIRCULAIING COOLING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 16, 1969 u WI CH m/vs TT -V H United States Patent Oflice 3,563,049 Patented Feb. 16, 1971 3,563,049 ASPIRATOR AND CIRCULATING COOLING APPARATUS Albert A. Schnerring, Neshanic, N.J., assignor of forty percent to John J. Lipari, Cranford, NJ.

Filed Jan. 16, 1969, Ser. No. 791,601 Int. Cl. F25b 19/02 US. Cl. 62-170 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Apparatus capable of use as an aspirator for drawing a constant vacuum and for use in circulating cooling systems. The apparatus is portable and includes an aspirator and means associated therewith for creating a vacuum at a controlled constant rate.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to an aspirator and circulating cooling apparatus and, in particular, to an aspirator capable of producing a partial vacuum for providing a constant suction draw and being easily convertible into a liquid circulating cooling unit.

In research and technical laboratories, vacuum drawing apparatus are used in technical procedures, such as the evacuation of fluids from flasks and the like. Heretofore, such apparatus provided undesirable variable suction flow rates. For example, the operation of numerous prior art aspirators were based upon their connection into a common water line having multiple taps. As a result, when one water tap was connected to an aspirator for drawing a vacuum, the use of another tap in the same water line would cause a pressure drop in the water line thereby resulting in a variation of the vacuum draw. Further, high quantities of water were required to maintain operation of the aspirator. Still, further, the aspirator normally was physically positioned in a fixed location thereby requiring the researcher or technician to transport the article to be evacuated to the aspirator.

In addition to the use of an aspirator in the laboratory, a cooling apparatus also is necessary in many procedures. Thus, the requirement of having both a cooling apparatus and an aspirator presents costly and space-consuming problems.

SUMMARY The object of this invention is to obviate the aforementioned difficulties and to provide an apparatus capable of functioning as an aspirator and a cooling unit.

Another object of this invention is to provide a portable aspirator and cooling unit.

Still another object of this invention is to provide an improved aspirator capable of drawing a vacuum at a constant rate.

Broadly, the apparatus includes a body having a cavity therein for holding a liquid, aspirator means communicating with the body cavity, means cooperatively associated with the body cavity for cooling the liquid at a desired temperature, a motor, and pump means connected to the aspirator and the lower portion of the body cavity, said pump means being responsive to energization of the motor for circulating the liquid through the body cavity and aspirator means for producing a vacuum.

Specifically, a movable platform is provided for holding a drum having Water therein. An aspirator unit having a nozzle associated therewith is provided with a conduit which extends into the drum cavity. A cooling unit is afiixed to the platform and provided with a cooling coil disposed in the lower portion of the drum in contact with the water. A pump also is connected to the platform and is provided with inlet tubing extending in the lower portion of the drum cavity and outlet tubing communicating with the aspirator unit. A multiple valve is disposed intermediate the aspirator and outlet tubing, said valve being connected to one end of an external conduit whose other end is capable of being connected to a vent extending from the body cavity. Upon energization of the motor and a setting of the valve in one position, the pump recirculates the water through the aspirator, drum and tubing thereby causing a constant vacuum draw through said nozzle and, when the valve is set in another position and said other end of the conduit is connected to the vent, cooled water is caused to constantly flow through said conduit for cooling systems in proximity thereto.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a partial schematic and cross-sectional view of the inventive apparatus as an aspirator, and

FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of a portion of the apparatus functioning as a cooling unit.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS With reference to FIG. 1 of the drawing, there is depicted a dolly, generally referred to at 10, having a platform 11 with a plurality of rollers 1212 thereon. Located on platform 11 is a drum 13 of a suitable size and material for holding and permitting the passage of a fluid such as water 14 therethrough. The amount of water in the drum is not critical except that its top level should be a sufficient space below an aspirator conduit 15 to prevent any back pressure during the vacuum draw, to be described hereinafter. In the instant embodiment, a 15 gallon drum is provided with approximately 5 gallons therein, which may be utilized for an indefinite period of time. The drum 13 has a top cover 16 with a suitable air-proof sealing material 17 located about its inner periphery for preventing any escape of air from the drum during operation of the apparatus. A water outlet valve 18 is located on the base of the drum for removal of the water when it is desired to change same.

Afiixed to platform 11 is a motor 20 having a coupling 21 connected to a water pump 22 located adjacent thereto. Extending from pump 22 is a water inlet pipe 23 leading into the lower portion of drum 13 and a water outlet pipe 24 which connects into a conventional aspirator unit 25.

Aspirator 25 is provided with a tubular member 15 which extends into the top portion of the drum cavity and is surrounded by an air tight seal 28. The aspirator also includes a nozzle 29 extending substantially perpendicularly from the upper portion of tubular member 15, the opening in the nozzle communicating with the opening in the tubular member for drawing a vacuum during circulation of the water, later to be described. If desired a manifold, not shown, may be attached to nozzle 29 for providing a plurality of vacuum drawing inlets.

A conventional thermostatically controlled cooling compressor unit 30 is connected to platform 11 and is provided with a conduit 31 which extends into the lower portion of drum 13. Conduit 31 is connected to coiled member 33 which maintains the Water 14 at a desired temperature. It is to be noted that a variation in the water temperature will alter the vacuum draw rate, e.g., when the water temperature increases, the vacuum draw decreases. Thus, when a certain laboratory procedure requires a controlled evacuation, one critical factor for procuring same is to provide a constant water temperature control. In the instant embodiment, with a controlled water temperature of about 27 C. and a Water pressure of about 28 p.s.i., pump 22 is capable of drawing 39 mm.

3 Hg in seconds when a direct connection is made to a manometer.

In operation, the apparatus, as thus far described, is capable of operating as an aspirator for drawing a vacuum at a constant rate. Upon energization of motor 20, pump 22 causes Water to circulate through tubing 24, aspirator 25, drum 13 and inlet tubing 23; a vacuum being created through nozzle 29 as the water passes through the aspirator. A tubular vent 35, extending through top cover 16, serves as an exit for any highly volatilized inflammable or poisonous gases which may have entered the drum. A suitable trap 36 may be provided intermediate the drum and an article (not shown) being evacuated to prevent any corrosive materials from passing into the drum. It has been found that a constant vacuum is obtained with the motor operating at a constant speed, the water temperature being constant and the water being circulated in a closed system. With the instant apparatus, evacuation of a 500 cc. flask is obtained in about 1 /2 minutes, at 44 mm. Hg, with a water temperature of about 27 C.

The apparatus also is capable of functioning as a circulating cooling system for cooling laboratory devices, equipment, articles under experiment and the like. A multiple valve 40, seen more fully in FIG. 2, is provided in outlet tubing 24 and is connected to one end 41 of an external, flexible conduit 42 whose other end 43 is capable of connection to vent 35. Thus, when it is desired to cool an article 45, valve is turned to a position to cause the water to be blocked from passing to aspirator 25 and, in lieu thereof the water passes through conduit 42, vent 35, drum 13 and tubing 23, 24. The conduit 42 may be placed under, adjacent to or coiled about article 45 for cooling, as desired. As the warm water recirculates through the drum, it is constantly cooled as a result of its flow over cooling coil 33, thereby permitting it to continuously take away heat from article 45.

While this apparaus has been described with a certain degree of particularity, numerous modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for providing a vacuum which comprises:

a body having a cavity therein for holding a liquid,

aspirator means communicating with the body cavity,

cooling means cooperatively associated with the body cavity for maintaining the liquid at a desired temperature,

a motor, and

pump means connected to the aspirator means, said pump means being responsive to energization of the motor for circulating the liquid through the body cavity and aspirator means for producing a constant vacuum draw.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 which further includes a platform for supporting said apparatus.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the platform is provided with means for permitting transport of said platform.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3 :wherein said cooling means includes a thermostatically controlled cooling compressor unit having a member extending within said body cavity for cooling the liquid circulating through the body cavity.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said body is provided with a vent for exiting any undesirable gases received within said body cavity via the vacuum draw through the aspirator means.

6. Aspirator and circulating cooling apparatus, which comprises:

a body having a cavity therein for holding a liquid,

said body being provided with a vent,

aspirator means communicating with the body cavity,

pump means connected to the aspirator means,

cooling means cooperatively associated with the body cavity for maintaining the liquid at a desired temperature,

a motor which, when energized, causes operation of the pump means,

a multiple valve operable in first and second positions,

a first tubular member interconnecting the pump means and aspirator means through the multiple valve, and

a second tubular member having one end connected to the multiple valve and the other end capable of connection to the vent, said apparatus functioning as an aspirator for producing a vacuum draw through the aspirator means when the valve is set in the first position and the liquid is pumped through said first tubular member, aspirator means and body cavity; said apparatus functioning as a circulating cooling system when the valve is set in the second position and said other end of the tubular member is connected to the vent thereby causing the liquid to bypass the aspirator means and circulate through said second tubular member, body cavity and cooling means so as to cool any systems in contact with said second tubular member.

'7. Aspirator and circulating cooling apparatus according to claim 6 which further includes a platform for supporting said apparatus.

8. Aspirator and circulating cooling apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the platform is provided with means for permitting transport of said platform.

9. Aspirator and circulating cooling apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said cooling means includes a thermostatically controlled cooling compressor unit having a member extending within said body cavity for cooling the liquid circulating through said body cavity.

10. Aspirator and circulating cooling apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said aspirator means includes a nozzle for connection to an article to be evacuated.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,894,893 1/1933 Schlumbohm 230-102 3,064,878 11/1962 Bayles 230-45 3,239,131 3/1966 Whyte 230-45 3,315,879 4/1967 Jennings 230-45 WILLIAM J. WYE, Primary Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. 

